Despite being widely tipped as a MotoGP title contender for 2026, Marco Bezzecchi insists he is in no hurry and is instead focused on starting the new season stronger than he did last year.
After delivering Aprilia’s most successful MotoGP campaign to date and emerging as Ducati’s closest rival in his first season on the RS-GP, Bezzecchi believes refining the final details is often the most challenging part of development. He explained that while making big improvements can sometimes feel easier, finding the last gains requires much more precision and patience.
Bezzecchi plans to use the experience he gained in 2025, having tested many different components and learning how each change affected the bike’s behaviour. He finished the season with six victories, split evenly between Grands Prix and Sprint races, but acknowledges that both rider and machine still have room to improve.
While he reached a strong level towards the end of last season, Bezzecchi pointed out that certain circuits remain challenging, with Sepang highlighted as a track where Aprilia has traditionally struggled. The upcoming pre-season test there will be crucial in determining whether another step forward has already been made.
The Italian also reflected on Aprilia’s development process throughout 2025, noting how solving one issue often revealed another. Stability, qualifying performance, and rear tyre management were all areas that required attention at different stages of the season. Rather than focusing on a single weakness, the team worked on improving the overall package step by step.
After a difficult start to the year, Bezzecchi’s breakthrough victory at Silverstone marked a turning point. From that moment on, he scored more points than any other rider in the second half of the season and ended the year with back-to-back Grand Prix wins, although Marc Marquez was absent late on due to injury.
Despite this momentum, Bezzecchi remains cautious about setting title expectations. His main objective is to begin the season competitively, consistently fighting for top-five finishes, with podium contention as a bonus. He wants to approach the Malaysia test calmly, stay focused, and enjoy riding again before defining clear targets after the opening rounds.
The official MotoGP Sepang test will take place from February 3 to 5.
